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Tag: Food

  • 50 poisoned at wedding

    50 poisoned at wedding

    No fewer than 50 people were poisoned at a wedding in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk due to spoiled food, local media reported.

    According to the report, the incident occurred in the town of Hawija, west of Kirkuk, the capital city of the cognominal province.

    The provincial health chief, Ziyad Khalaf, said some of the cases were mild while some were serious.

    He added that all the patients have received the necessary medical treatment in the hospital.

    The incident came a day after a deadly fire ripped through a wedding hall in a predominantly Christian town in Iraq’s northern province of Nineveh, killing 114 people and injuring more than 200.

  • Nigeria mobilises $500m for food system transformation – Shettima

    Nigeria mobilises $500m for food system transformation – Shettima

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that Nigeria has mobilised more than half a billion dollars for innovative, profitable, equitable and sustainable food system transformation initiatives.

    Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, in a statement said that Shettima made this known while chairing a high-level meeting on the first day of the UN Food Systems Summit in Rome, Italy.

    The meeting was declared open by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

    Shettima explained that the funds were mobilised through domestic resources, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and climate funds by leading agro-businesses.

    He said that the funds would be used for financing food system transformation, development of Nigeria’s agro value chain and the setting up of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones.

    “In this event, the Government of Nigeria will be showcasing its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) as a unique example of a successful partnership between producers, the public sector and private operators.

    “The VCDP, which is co-funded by Nigeria and IFAD, has empowered vulnerable farmers and youth to engage in commercial partnerships with some of the biggest food processing and marketing firms in the world such as OLAM,“ Shettima said.

    OLAM is operating in more than 60 countries with an annual revenue of about 39.8 billion dollars.

    While speaking on the government’s vision about ending hunger, the vice president noted that building on the success of the VCDP, the Federal Government was determined to empower Nigeria’s rural small holders and operators, youth and women living below the poverty line to enable them to take advantage of the new Special Processing Zones.

    Also on the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ),  Shettima said it brought together local governments, IFAD, AfDB, IsDB, GCF, OLAM and other private actors alongside the government of Nigeria for transformative financing of food systems that leaves no-one behind.

    Similarly, while featuring in the panel discussion with the Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua; and Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ouhoudou Mahamadou, Shettima said President Bola Tinubu was determined to transform the concept and meaning of modern governance”  by demonstrating commitment towards the food system in the country.

    “President Tinubu hit the ground running from day one of his administration, which is barely two months in office and has declared a state of emergency in food security and took it as a livelihood item within the National Security Council.”

    On removing impediments to economic recovery, he said “we had two albatrosses around our necks, subsidy on petrol and multiple exchange rates system.

    “We withdrew the subsidy on petrol from day one, just like President Ruto did in Kenya.

    “To mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal, the government embarked on the immediate release of grains and fertilizers.

    “A commodity marketing board has been put in place to continuously review and monitor the prices of food items. Along this way, the president has already approved the infusion of huge quantum of funds towards repositioning of our security architecture.

    “We have similar problems with Somalia and Kenya, especially in the Northeast and Northwest regions of our country and so we are repositioning our security architecture to provide support for farms and farmers,“ the vice president said.

    Earlier, while declaring the Summit open, the UN Secretary General, Guteress commended the participating countries for their commitment to addressing the problems of hunger and malnutrition.

    “This is the gathering about food system. It is essentially to fulfill those basic of human rights, the right to food. It is outrageous that people continue to suffer in the world of plenty,” he said.

    The Vice President also had bilateral meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. Both leaders discussed issues about the development of the two countries.

    Shettima was accompanied to the meeting by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy, Mfawa Abam and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, and other senior government officials.

    In attendance were the President of IFAD, Dr Alvaro Lario, Muhammad Suleiman Al Jasser, President of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Vice President of AfDB, Mrs Hassatau N’Sele.

    Others were the Vice President of OLAM International, Mr Reji George and the Vice President, Commodity Alliance Forum (Representative of farmers) Mrs Ejim Lovelyn.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The food of fancy

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: The food of fancy

    Read: Numbers 11:1-35 

    Meditation verse: 

    “And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy” (Ps  78:18).

    As you present your requests to The Almighty, are you asking Him for the ‘food  of fancy’ or for His will to be done in your life? The ‘food of fancy’ is anything  you desire for purely selfish reasons: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or  the pride of life. James 4: 3 states “you ask and do not receive, because you ask  amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”. Seeking to fulfil God’s purpose  for your life will lead to peace and fulfilment, whilst the ‘food of fancy’ will  eventually lead to physical or spiritual death. 

    In today’s reading, the children of Israel complained against God’s daily supply  of manna. They had no idea why God chose to feed them with manna in the  wilderness. Perhaps it was what was best for their digestive systems in that  environment, but they rebelled and murmured against God. Then He gave them  the food of their fancy: quail. “But while the meat was still between their teeth,  before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and  the Lord struck the people with a very great plague” (Number 11:33) 

    God promises to hear you if you ask according to His will, and you are not left to  figure this out on your own. The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities, for we know  not what to pray for. “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the  Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will  of God” (Rom 8:27 NIV). 

    So, are you asking for the ‘food of fancy’ or are you asking in accordance with  God’s will? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart this day.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • Norway donates $4.5million to support food crises in Northeast Nigeria

    Norway donates $4.5million to support food crises in Northeast Nigeria

    The Norwegian government has commited $4.5m to support food crisis in Northeast region of Nigeria.

    This comes as an addition to the $24 million granted earlier.

    The fund will be used to expand food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states.

    The Norwegian Government has committed an additional 4.5 million dollars in support of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), humanitarian activities in addressing the lingering crisis in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

    The FAO Representative in Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, stated during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony between the UN body and the Norwegian Government in Abuja.

    Kafeero said the support from the government of Norway amounted to 24 million dollars, since the start of the crisis and it has reached over 1,198, 077 conflict-affected people at present and still counting.

    The financial assistance is specifically intended for the implementation of an ongoing initiative that seeks to expand food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states.

    According to him, since 2017, the Government of Norway through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been generously contributing to rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities in Northeast Nigeria that are affected by the now over a decade-long conflict.

    For the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), Kafeero noted that FAO, being a key provider of livelihood support in the food security sector, has set a target of reaching two million people but only 56,000 individuals have been reached.

    “Moreover, an analysis of the funding trends reveals that only 3.4 out of 100 units of total funding allocated to the food security sector are directed towards livelihood interventions.

    “The addendum for a complementary fund for 2023 is deemed more than important, not only because it marks the continuous and fruitful collaboration, and partnership that exists between the Government of Norway and FAO in Nigeria but because it will contribute to filling the livelihoods funding gap for the 2023 lean season.

    “While the funding is contributing towards improving food security in the NE, the gap is still huge in meeting the needs of 3.7 million people who need livelihood assistance.”

    The Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, Knut Eiliv Lein, said the $4.5 million additional funding commitment made by the government was aimed at supporting agriculture and people impacted by the conflict.

  • FG set 78 priority actions to transform food system

    FG set 78 priority actions to transform food system

    The Federal Government has set 78 priority actions that would transform the food systems from farm to the dining table, including the waste.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr Nebeolisa Anako, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Mrs Folasade Boriowo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the National Steering Committee on Implementation of food systems pathway would meet on Thursday in Anambra.

    Anako said that for the preparation of stock taking moment, coming up in Rome on July 24 with side event on 26.

    He said that all the coordinators of nine states in the six geopolitical zones; namely North East – (Borno), North West – (Kano), North Central (Kwara), South West – (Lagos and Osun), South South – (Akwa Ibom and Edo), South East – (Enugu and Anambra), would attend the meeting to be chaired by him.

    Anako said that in the same vein, there would be retreat of the coordinating directors of zones and members of steering committee at Uzanu Farm, Edo, from June 25 to 26.

    He said that the retreat would discuss final template to be used for collation of national report to be submitted at United Nations (UN) food system coordination HUB by Nigeria.

    Anako also said that the national steering committee was inaugurated by the former Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, on the recommendation of the national convener, Dr Sanjo Faniran.

  • Food industry is like the oil industry – Hilda Baci

    Food industry is like the oil industry – Hilda Baci

    World Guinness Record holder in the longest cooking marathon, Hilda Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has said the food industry is like the oil industry and can generate as much revenue for the nation.

    Baci on Saturday pledged to continue to work toward putting Nigeria on global culinary map.

    Baci gave the assurance during the Nigerian Gastronomy Festival Gala Night organised by National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), in Abuja.

    According to her, with encouragement from the government, Nigeria will be taking over the global culinary industry.

    She said the food industry if properly developed, could spin as much revenue for the nation like the oil industry.

    Bassey commended NIHOTOUR’s efforts in encouraging individuals to upgrade their cooking skills.

    “Like I always say, the food industry is like the oil industry.

    “Nigeria is definitely going to be the destination for food tourism, give it another five years, we are already on our way to greatness.

    “With everything happening now, giving opportunity to people to express themselves with food and hospitality, it is a beautiful development in taking us to that enviable height.

    “In my own little or big way, I will keep  puting in the effort to put Nigerian cuisines on the map to drive more positive attention to Nigeria as a whole, just let people know what we have and capable of,” she said.

    Baci officially broke the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes.

    The 26-year-old Nigerian chef began on May 11 and continued through to May 15, cooking over 100 pots of food during her four-day kitchen stint.

    Baci attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt.

  • Food insecurity: Over 25m Nigerians will face acute hunger in 2023- UN Agency

    Food insecurity: Over 25m Nigerians will face acute hunger in 2023- UN Agency

    United Nations agency, the World Food Programme, (WFP), has said that over 25 million Nigerians will face acute hunger in 2023 due to food insecurity, peaking during the ‘lean season’.

    The projection was made known by WFP’s Country Director, David Stevenson, during the unveiling of the humanitarian agency’s new Country Strategic Plan (CSP), for Nigeria in Abuja.

    “As food insecurity continues to spike in Nigeria, over 25 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the June-August 2023 lean season,” Mr Stevenson said in his remarks.

    The lean season is the period between planting and harvesting when job opportunities are scarce, and incomes plummet.

    According to the official, in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states alone, some 4.4 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the lean season this year. Some 2 million children are also projected to be acutely malnourished in the northeast states alone, he noted.

    “Permit me to say that humanitarian aid has not kept pace with this sharp rise in hunger levels,” Mr Stevenson said.

    Despite this, the official said the WFP is assisting some 2.1 million vulnerable people in Nigeria in 2023 through food assistance and nutrition support, cash payments and livelihood projects to help build back the resilience of the people affected by conflict.

    According to Mr Stevenson, the CSP is aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition in some parts of the north-east, north-west and fostering a reinforced partnership in strengthening the national humanitarian and development response, all in accordance with the SDGs.

    He emphasised that the CSP defines WFP’s entire portfolio of assistance within the country for five years and that it would be effective from 2023 to 2027.

    “The CSP is valued at US$2.56 billion and is designed to support Nigeria in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2),” he said.

    “The CSP, which took effect from March 2023, is aligned with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025), Nigeria Agenda (2050), the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2021-2025) and the National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework,” he added.

    In his remarks, Nasir Gwarzo, permanent secretary of Nigeria’s Humanitarian and Disaster Management Ministry, said the new five years plan made provision for WFP to expand its areas of assistance to the Northwest and refugee camps in Nigeria instead of the Northeast previously covered.

    “It might interest you to know that the WFP supported the Ministry with the deployment of both National and International consultants whose effort contributed immensely to the development of National Policy on Cash and Voucher Assistance (NPCVA) in a Humanitarian Context,” he said.

    The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

  • 70 per cent of food exports from Nigeria rejected abroad-NAFDAC

    70 per cent of food exports from Nigeria rejected abroad-NAFDAC

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has said that over 70 per cent of food exports from Nigeria are rejected abroad, with huge financial losses to exporters.

    The Director General,Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed this yesterday in a press statement signed by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola.

    Adeyeye, however, said the rejection in some European countries and the United States of America may soon become a thing of the past, if collaboration between the agency and other government agencies at ports is strengthened.

    The NAFDAC boss made the assertion, over the weekend, at official commissioning of the new NAFDAC office complex for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport/Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Lagos.

    Adeyeye said the deplorable state of export trade facilitation for regulated products leaving the country has remained a serious cause of concern for her agency, adding that a trip to NAFDAC export warehouses within the international airport would explain the major reason for continued rejection of Nigerian exports abroad.

    She noted that the agency is responding to the challenge by initiating a collaborative venture with government agencies at the ports, to ensure goods are of requisite quality and meet the regulatory requirements of importing countries and destinations.

    According to her, this raises the need for more enhanced regulation of export-packaging, pre-shipment testing and certification, to provide quality assurance and minimise rejects.

    To save Nigeria’s reputation in international commerce, Adeyeye called on all stakeholders in export trade to see this as a call to duty and collaborate with NAFDAC.

    “The mandate to safeguard the health of the populace through ensuring that food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water are safe, efficacious and of the right quality in an economy that is overwhelmingly dependent on importation of the bulk of its finished products and raw materials could never have been actualised without effective presence of NAFDAC at the ports and land borders.”

    She applauded the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the symbiotic relationship that exists between its management and the agency, saying: “Without Customs, we will not be able to do a lot of what we have been able to do.

     

     

  • Food prices continue to rise in March- NBS

    Food prices continue to rise in March- NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said that prices of food items such as yam, beans and beef witnessed increases in March.

    This is contained in NBS Selected Food Prices Watch Report for March 2023 released in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The report said the average price of 1kg beef boneless on a year-on-year basis, increased by 25.05 per cent from N1, 982.92 in March 2022 to N2, 479.61 in March 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, 1kg beef boneless increased by 1.38 per cent from N2, 445.96 recorded in February 2023.”

    The report also said the average price of 1kg of tomato on a year-on-year basis, rose by 13.81 per cent from N409.96 in March 2022 to N466.60 in March 2023.

    “However, on a month-on-month basis, 1kg of tomato declined by 0.32 per cent from N468.09 recorded in February 2023.

    The report also showed that the average price of 1kg of brown beans (sold loose) increased by 13.13 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N527.66 in March 2022 to N596.96 in March 2023.

    “On a month-on -month basis, it increased by 0.47 per cent from N594.15 recorded in February 2023.”

    Similarly, it said the average price of 1kg of onion bulb rose by 17.37 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N378.59 in March 2022 to N444.37 in March 2023.

    “While on a month-on-month basis, it dropped by 1.27 per cent from N450.07 recorded in February 2023.”

    The report said the average price of 1kg of Yam tuber rose by 25.30 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N353.56 in March 2022 to N443.02 in March 2023.

    “On a month-on -month basis,1kg tuber of yam increased by 1.51 per cent from N436.41 recorded in February 2023.”

    In addition, the average price of one bottle of vegetable oil stood at N1, 220.62 in March 2023, showing an increase of 25.80 per cent from N970.29 recorded in March 2022.

    “On a month-on-month basis, it rose by 2.00 per cent from N1, 196.68 recorded in February 2023.”

    The report said at the state level, the highest average price of 1kg of beef (boneless) was recorded in Anambra at N3,107.44, while the lowest was recorded in Kogi at N1,778.00.

    It said Edo recorded the highest price of tomato at N901.23, while Kogi recorded the least at N196.41.

    The report said Ebonyi recorded the highest price of beans brown (sold loose) at N906.00, while Kebbi recorded the lowest at N352.70.

    It said Cross River state recorded the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb at N981.86, while Taraba recorded the lowest at N205.50

    The NBS said the price of 1kg of yam was highest in Akwa Ibom at N900.80, while Taraba recorded the lowest at N188.60.

    The report said Abia recorded the highest price of Vegetable oil (1 bottle at N1,618.21, while Benue recorded the lowest at N720.00.

    Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of beef (boneless) was highest in the South-East at N3,044.46, while the North-Central recorded the lowest at N2,077.44.

    It said the average price of 1kg of tomato was highest in the South-South at N811.13, while the lowest was recorded in the North-East at N237.52.

    The report said the South-East recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans (sold loose) at N793.71, while the lowest was recorded in the North-East at N479.30

  • Hardship in Nigeria gets worse as food prices continue to rise

    Hardship in Nigeria gets worse as food prices continue to rise

    The hardship in Nigeria is getting worse as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed the prices of food items such as yam, rice and beef witnessed increases in February.

    This is contained in NBS Selected Food Prices Watch Report for February 2023 released in Abuja on Friday.

    The report said the average price of 1kg beef boneless on a year-on-year basis, increased by 27.43 per cent from N1,922.2 in February 2022 to N2,445.96 in February 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, 1kg beef boneless increased by 1.12 per cent from N2,418.91 recorded in January 2023.”

    The report showed that the average price of 1kg rice (local, sold loose) increased on a year-on-year basis by 19.30 per cent from N436.58 in February 2022 to N520.84 in February 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item increased by 1.17 per cent from N514.83 in January 2023.’’

    The report also said the average price of 1kg of tomato on a year-on-year basis, rose by 19.08 per cent from N393.08 in February 2022 to N468.09 in February 2023.

    “Also, on a month-on-month basis, 1kg of tomato increased by 0.22 per cent in February 2023.’’

    The NBS also said the average price of one bottle of vegetable oil stood at N1,196.68 in February 2023, showing an increase of 25.91 per cent from N950.46 recorded in February 2022.

    “On a month-on-month basis, it rose by 1.10 per cent from N1,183.67 recorded in January 2023.’’

    The report said the average price of 1kg yam tuber rose by 28.45 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N339.76 in February 2022 to N436.41 in February 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, 1kg tuber of yam increased by 1.17 per cent from N431.36 in January 2023.’’

    Similarly, it said the average price of 1kg of onion bulb rose by 18.99 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N378.26 in February 2022 to N450.07 in February 2023.

    “While on a month-on-month basis, the price rose by 2.41 per cent.’’

    The report said at the state level, the highest average price of 1kg beef boneless was recorded in Anambra at N3,103.26, while the lowest was recorded in Kogi at N1,770.00.

    It said Cross River recorded the highest average price of 1kg Onion bulb with N1,058.61, while the lowest was reported in Adamawa at N194.44.

    The report said Abia recorded the highest price of Vegetable oil (1 bottle) at N1,615.24, while Benue recorded the lowest price at N710.00.

    Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of Tomato was higher in the South-South and South-East at N812.55 and N649.03, respectively, while the lowest was recorded in the North-East at N232.78.

    It said the South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg Rice (local, sold loose) at N599.29, followed by the South-West with N599.12.

    “The lowest price was recorded in the North-West at N451.70.’’